The perfect storm that threatens the NHS

New article on the NHS for the Telegraph, on the problems implicit in an ageing population:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9036022/The-perfect-storm-that-threatens-the-NHS.html

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Decline of Foreign Languages in schools

New data I’ve obtained on the decline of Foreign Languages in school:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9030818/More-teenagers-shunning-foreign-languages-at-school.html

 

Number of pupils who were not entered (1) for a modern foreign language GCSE (2)
1997(3,5)	153,500
2010(4,5)	366,500
2011(4,5)	377,600
(1) Includes students who were entered but received a grade X in the subject. (2) Figures are given to the nearest hundred.(3) 1997 figures relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year. (4 )Figures for pupils at the end of key stage 4.(5) 2011 figures are provisional results unchecked by schools, all other figures are final. Source: School and College Performance Tables.

Carers

Article for the Telegraph on how we can do more for carers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9020817/If-you-are-caring-for-relatives-you-deserve-the-Governments-help.html

Foreign Nationals and the NHS- Unpaid Bills

Following on from my article on Conservative Home yesterday, here are the full results of my Freedom of Information requests:

Foreign Nationals Final

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2012/01/chris-skidmore-mp-substandard-administration-in-the-nhs-has-led-to-unacceptable-abuse-of-resources-b.html

History in Schools Debate- Transcript

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm120110/halltext/120110h0001.htm#12011042000001

The debate was very well attended- with particularly impressive contributions from Tristram Hunt and Paul Maynard, and an encouraging response from Schools Minister Nick Gibb.

I fully intend to continue the campaign to make history compulsory to 16, as the government’s Curriculum Review remains ongoing. I believe that there is broad support for the idea, both in Parliament and in the wider historical community, and I look forward to further demonstrating this support in the weeks and months to come.

History in Schools debate – 11am today

I have called a Westminster Hall debate for 11am this morning, on history in schools. The live video will be available at :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9674000/9674294.stm

Article setting out my case for making history compulsory to 16:

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/43315/chris_skidmore_we_cant_opt_out_of_history.html